Dark circles under the eyes are a common complaint. They
make you appear tired, even when you're not, and can add years
to your face, but for some people dark circles seem next to
impossible to get rid of.
The most common cause of dark circles under your eyes
is one you can't control: your family.
Contrary to what you may have heard, fatigue usually doesn't
play a role in dark under-eye circles, according to Mayo Clinic
dermatologist Lawrence Gibson, M.D. Lack of sleep is not a
common cause either, although not sleeping can make dark circles
appear worse because of swelling around the eyes. What does
cause dark circles under the eyes? Here's a list of the most
"The most common type of under-eye circles are usually
an inherited trait like varicose veins and have nothing to
do with underlying disease or how much sleep you get,"
says Paul Lazar, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at
Northwestern University in Chicago
Dark circles run in families for a number of reasons. When
blood passes through the veins under your eyes (where the
skin is very thin), dark circles can appear. If your skin
is more transparent (an inherited trait), the circles will
Meanwhile, you can also inherit an excess amount of skin
pigmentation under the eyes, which leads to dark circles,
and others, particularly those of Mediterranean ethnicity,
have dark pigmentation in the dermis layer of the skin that
"creates a blue-black hue below the eyes," says
Dr. Sandy Tsao, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Finally, the shape of your face can also contribute to dark
circles. Those who are born with a deep hollow (or "tear
trough") in the inner corner of their eyes can have dark
circles because of a shadow that's cast near the corner of
their eyes, says Tsao.
People with the chronic skin condition eczema under their
eyes may experience darkening in the area, which is especially
noticeable in people with darker skin. The discoloration comes
from inflammation and rubbing your itchy eyes.
"Substances that you are sensitive to can dilate the
blood vessels in the delicate under-eye area," says Dr.
Lazar. "The blood then shows through the skin."
often cause your eyes to itch, and rubbing or scratching your
eyes can cause the skin to darken. People who suffer from
hay fever may have under-eye smudges during allergy season,
and those who have food
allergies may also experience dark circles when they eat
a food they're sensitive to.
4. Cold or Sinus Infection
Superficial blood vessels in the skin can lead to dark circles
under the eyes. A cold
or sinus infection increases pressure on these blood vessels,
which makes it even more likely that dark circles will appear.
Also, if your skin becomes pale due to a cold or sinus infection
(or because of fatigue, menstruation, pregnancy, etc.), dark
circles will be accentuated.
If you have dark circles, don't rub your eyes! Doing
so will make the skin more inflamed and thicker, and
the dark circles will appear darker.
Although getting older doesn't mean you'll automatically
get dark under-eye circles, aging will tend to make existing
dark circles stand out more, and may make them more permanent.
Certain medications, such as those that cause blood vessels
to dilate, can cause under-eye circles to appear darker.
7. Lack of Nutrients
Not eating a variety of healthy foods can lead to nutrient
deficiencies that contribute to discoloration under the
How to Prevent Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
Although inherited dark circles can't be prevented, there
are a number of things you can do to make sure they're kept
as invisible as possible:
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh, whole foods.
Avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes, which will cause
the skin to become thicker and inflamed.
Identify, and try to avoid, potential allergens.
Get enough sleep and take time to relax (and let go of
stress). This will help keep you healthy and less likely
to come down with a cold or sinus infection.
Try placing cool tea bags or cucumber slices on your
(closed) eyes for 10-15 minutes. Compounds in tea bags
called tannins have been found to help reduce swelling
and discoloration under the eyes, while cucumber slices
help reduce puffiness.
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